Yanks sign Posada to 4-year deal

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, November 12, 2007

A five-time All-Star, Posada said Sunday he was "really close" to a deal with the Yankees and his preference was to remain with the only major league team he's played for.

A person familiar with the talks confirmed the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce it. The sides were working late Monday on wrapping up details of the agreement, which was first reported by the Daily News on its Web site. Posada must pass a physical before the contract is finalized.

New York also was trying to re-sign Mariano Rivera before Tuesday, when free agents could start talking money with all clubs, but those talks were taking longer to complete.

Posada and his agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, had lunch Monday with Mets general manager Omar Minaya and vice president Tony Bernazard. The Yankees initially offered the 36-year-old Posada a three-year contract but upped their proposal to four years on Monday evening.

The Levinsons also represent Boston third baseman Mike Lowell, and the Yankees already have had dialogue with the pair about the World Series MVP, whose preference appears to be to stay with the Red Sox.

Rivera, an eight-time All-Star who turns 38 on Nov. 29, was in the Dominican Republic on Monday, and the closer said if he couldn't reach a deal with New York, he would consider following manager Joe Torre to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is expected to receive a three-year contract and Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said Rivera already had been given an improved offer.

"The Yankees are my first option," he said in Santo Domingo. "But if that is not possible, there is Joe with the Dodgers."

General manager Brian Cashman said re-signing the pair are his top priorities right now.

"The ball's pretty much in their court now. They've both been made very good offers now, and we'll see where they're at," Steinbrenner said Monday afternoon. "We'll see how committed they are."

Steinbrenner said the Yankees still were trying to gauge what the Florida Marlins might want in a trade for All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who is being made available.

"We got a couple ideas, what they might be asking for, and it's a lot," Steinbrenner said. "I don't know what's going to happen there, but there's still plenty of time on that."

It's also far too early to determine whether the Minnesota Twins will attempt to trade two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who can become a free agent after next season. Steinbrenner said the Yankees certainly would speak with the Twins if he becomes available.

"I think somebody would be foolish to say they have no interest in Santana," he said, "but it depends. It depends on what they're looking for."